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San Francisco vs South Lake Tahoe Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: San Francisco crime rate · South Lake Tahoe crime rate

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Is San Francisco or South Lake Tahoe Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, South Lake Tahoe is safer than San Francisco (Safety Score 34/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,266 per 100,000 versus 4,526 for San Francisco — 50% lower. San Francisco has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where South Lake Tahoe has a 100% lower rate.

Note: San Francisco is 38.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than San Francisco, CA?

San Francisco — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

South Lake Tahoe — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 802,856
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6
Category Wins 1/7

South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, CA
Safety Score 34/100
Coverage 21,005
Total Crime Rate 2,266.1
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type San Francisco South Lake Tahoe Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,525.6 2,266.1 +2,259.5
Violent Crime Rate 596.5 804.6 -208.1
Murder Rate 4.4 0.0 +4.4
Rape Rate 34.9 61.9 -27.0
Robbery Rate 267.2 42.9 +224.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 290.1 680.8 -390.7
Property Crime Rate 3,929.1 1,461.6 +2,467.5
Burglary Rate 637.5 190.4 +447.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,618.9 1,161.6 +1,457.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 672.7 109.5 +563.2

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from San Francisco, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco or South Lake Tahoe safer?

South Lake Tahoe is safer with a total crime rate of 2,266 per 100K vs 4,526 for San Francisco — a 50% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

San Francisco has a violent crime rate of 596.5 per 100K while South Lake Tahoe has 804.6. San Francisco has lower violent crime.

About San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, a vibrant Northern California port city renowned for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, spans a hilly peninsula. Home to a diverse population of nearly 850,000, it was a pivotal center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 802,856, San Francisco has a total crime rate of 4,525.6 per 100,000 residents.

About South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, California, is a resort city on the Sierra Nevada's eastern slope, renowned for its casinos and Heavenly Mountain Resort. Its pristine alpine lake attracts millions of visitors annually. With a safety score of 34/100 and a population coverage of 21,005, South Lake Tahoe has a total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 residents.

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